How to get rid of a fungal nail infection: Prevent condition by doing this every day

HOW TO get rid of a fungal nail infection: While the condition is common, fungal nail infections can take a long time to treat. They usually affect your toenails, but can be found on fingernails too. So what can you to treat one and prevent it from happening in the first place?

Fungal nail infections usual start at the edge of the nail but often spread to the middle. The nail can become discoloured and lift off the nail bed, or it can become brittle and pieces can break off.

Not only can people be unhappy with the appearance of a fungal nail infection, they can also cause pain and swelling in the skin around the nail.

They usually develop when your feet are constantly warm and damp - wearing trainers for a long time and having hot, sweaty feet is usually the cause.

If the look of your nail begins to bother you, then your first port of call should be to speak to a pharmacist, advises the NHS.

They may suggest you try anti fungal nail cream, which can take up to 12 months to cure the infection and doesn’t always work, or nail softening cream, which is used for two weeks to soften the nail so the infection can be scraped off.

Common causes of fungal nail infections

Fungal nail infections: The most common causes.

How to get rid of a fungal nail infection: It usually develops when feet are constantly damp (Image: GETTY)

Thirdly wear clean socks every day.

Fourthly wear flip flops in showers at the gym or pool.

And finally make sure to throw out old shoes.

Another problem caused by sweaty feet and wearing the same shoes every day is smelly feet, medically known as bromodosis.

Anyone can get sweaty feet, no matter what time of year it is, but you’re more likely to have foot perspiration if you’re on your feet all day, if you’re under a lot of stress, or if you have a condition called hyperhidrosis, which makes you sweat more than usual.

How to get rid of a fungal nail infection: Prevent one happening by keeping feet clean and dry (Image: GETTY)

Podiatrist Lorraine Jones told the NHS that feet become smelly if sweat soaks into shoes and they don’t dry before you wear them agin.

Bacteria on the skin break down sweat as it comes from the pores. A cheesy odour is released as the sweat decomposes.

She explained: “Your feet sweat into your shoes all day so they get damp and bacteria start to grow. The bacteria continue to breed once you’ve taken your shoes off, especially if you put them in a dark cupboard.

“Then, when you put your shoes back on the next day, even if you’ve just had a shower, putting your feet into still damp shoes creates the perfect conditions for the bacteria to thrive - warm, dark and moist.”